Igor Jovicevic: One football player was missing

Shakhtar head coach Igor Jovicevic summed up the draw with Oleksandriia (2:2) and spoke about the personnel situation in the team.

– What were you missing to defend the result and win three points?
– One football player was missing to give a better game. Oleksandriia is a great team that made it difficult for us to play. The opponent is in great shape, fresh. The match was tough: there were a lot of not-so-good moments but we coped, fought and were able to turn the game around after a quick goal and a send-off. We scored two goals and were energetic after the air raid alarm, started dominating, sharpening, stabilizing the game. However, the send-off destabilized the team and we had to adjust to the opponent. This result will not spoil our mood. It is difficult for everyone after the Champions League, as Chelsea, Atletico and others show. We must think positively, draw conclusions from this match and recover until a very important match with Leipzig. Ahead is the game against the top team of a high level, which fact is demonstrated in every game. A tough match awaits us but for our fans who will give us energy, we will try to create a miracle.

– What is the personnel situation? Did Zubkov join the injured Konoplia and Shved?
– During the game we could achieve a victory, at the same time Oleksandriia showed that they play good, dangerous, fast football – the result is natural. I am more concerned about Zubkov's injury, because every coach wants all the players to be healthy and prepare for the next game. Konoplia and Shved have some problems and we have a problem now. We have to think about who to replace Oleksandr with. He pulled the posterior muscle, and if that happens instantly, it's for a long time and it's not a spasm.

– When will Konoplia and Shved be able to start training?
– We'll see. Konoplia will try to practice tomorrow but will the pain disappear? There is a positive dynamics but let's look at him in contact training: whether he be able to maintain the pace so that we could understand whether we can count on him in the game against Leipzig. Shved has had groin problems for some time now, and his recovery dynamics are not like that. It also will take a few more days for Ocheretko to return. It's a pity that two useful left-footed wingers who fit our game model are not with the team right now.